If you are a baking enthusiast, and you want to make cakes for a living, maybe you should set up your very own customized cake business. However, before you even think of starting this type of business, you should have a set plan. Here are 8 essentials for running a customized cake business.
Table of Contents
1. Have A Business Plan
When it comes to setting up a customized cake business, it is important that you have a business plan. By utilizing a business plan, you will know the risks and rewards involved. First things first, you should at least know what type of cakes you will be serving. You should also choose your target market, and pattern your product choice and marketing strategies after their needs.
2. Set Up A Budget For Yourself
If you want your customized cake business to be a success, it is important that you set a budget for yourself. Remember that any business takes time and more importantly resources to establish properly. If you use up all your funds in one go, you will find it very difficult to set up your business.
3. Set Up An Efficient Kitchen
Once you have your business plan and budget in order, it is now time to set up your kitchen. We could call it a bakery, however, you will be making customized cakes, so a kitchen will do.
If you are going to set up a kitchen, it is important that you invest in key pieces of equipment. Firstly, you will need an oven or two, because you might get a large order of cakes, and if you only have one oven, you might struggle to fulfill these orders.
It is also important that you have mixers, pans, etc for your kitchen. Aside from your equipment, you should make sure that you have your materials at the ready. Make sure that you have a large store of sugar, cake flour, chocolate, nuts, confectioner’s sugar, and other ingredients that you might need.
It is important that you restock on a regular basis, and store the ingredients somewhere safe and dry. It is best to have a walk-in pantry, so you could store a good amount of ingredients at a time. You should also have a large freezer, so that you could store the finished cakes efficiently as well.
4. Follow Proper Sanitary Practices
When you run your kitchen, it is very important that your kitchen crew practices proper kitchen sanitation. All surfaces should be decontaminated and wiped clean at the end of the day. All the ovens should be cleaned of debris, crumbs, and pieces of rubbish.
They should also wear gloves, and face masks as they work on the cakes. It is also a good idea to put hand sanitizers in key locations in your kitchen. This will enable them to clean their hands on a regular basis. It is also important that you have an exterminator go through your kitchen at least once a month, to check if there are any insects and rodents that may have gotten into your kitchen.
All these precautions might seem a bit excessive, however, you should remember that all it takes is a health complaint, and the authorities might close your business down.
5. Come Up With Great Cake Designs
If you want your cake customization business to thrive, you should be more than just a baker. You must also be an artist. You should have the mentality that the customer is always right, and that each and every cake design counts.
When your customer gives you his or her instructions, you should be as attentive to them as possible. Remember that all it takes is a bad review, and you might lose support from your patrons. As a rule, it is important that you list down their design request to the very last detail.
6. Utilize Molds For Your Decorations
Aside from being an artist with icing and fondant, you should also be able to create beautiful decorations that are good enough for your client’s expectations. This is where molding technology comes in handy.
There are companies such as Immould that specialize in creating products that range from auto parts molds to baby parts. With this vast repertoire of services, you will be able to make beautiful cake decorations that are up to your customer’s specifications. Just give them the exact specifications for your decorations, and they will create very detailed molds for it.
7. Market Your Wares Effectively
While it is important that you hone your craft as a baker, it is even more important that you know how to market your items properly. You could create some of the best cake designs in the world, but if your marketing is lacking, you will certainly not sell as much of your products.
If you want your business to do well, you should set up a website for it. By having a specialized website for your company, you will be able to expand your marketing reach. When you set up your website, your main goal should be to make it as attractive and easy to use as possible.
8. Branding Is Key
When it comes to making your custom cake company stand out from the competition, it is important that you take your branding seriously. Your branding will affect how your potential customers will see your company.
First things first, you should make sure that you choose company colors. This color combination will help people remember your products. It is also important that you use a specific design for your packaging.
Conclusion
When it comes to running a customized cake business, it is important that you have a set strategy. With these tips, you’ll be able to set up a great cake business of your very own.
